On October 27, 2010 the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) announced that it will award a $2.8 million grant to bring 90 electric vehicles (EVs) to government fleets across the Bay Area. As part of the national demonstration project Alameda County will deploy 20 electric vehicles in their fleet beginning in the second quarter of 2011. Bringing electric vehicles to Bay Area Government Fleets will curb emissions and reduce dependence on oil.

The grant funding will cover the additional cost beyond the normal cost of conventional gasoline vehicles. Grant funds will also pay for the purchase and installation of 20 electric vehicle charging stations to be deployed in locations throughout Alameda County.

"Alameda County's Climate Action Plan, adopted earlier this year, sets goals for the County to reduce our carbon footprint. This project allows for Alameda County to demonstrate the performance of electric vehicles, as well as to help to develop an EV charging station infrastructure within the County," said Aki Nakao, Alameda County's General Services Agency Director. "The MTC grant will enable the County to continue its focus on implementing innovative, clean energy technologies that increase prosperity in the region. We commend and thank the MTC for its continued commitment to fostering innovative clean transportation alternatives."

This grant is a part of MTC's $33 million Climate Innovation Grants pool, $14 million of which is allocated to this and other major electric vehicle projects in the Bay Area - approximately 44 percent of the total grants pool. MTC - Chaired by Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty - also funds an EV battery swap initiative for taxis, a program to bring additional EV infrastructure to the region, and an electrified car sharing program.

The Local Government EV Fleet National Demonstration Project will include coordinated analytics and best practices aggregation, a regional visibility campaign, and national outreach via the fleet associations to catalyze adoption of EVs in fleets nationwide. Anticipated to have a net CO2 emission reduction of 439,639 lbs, the project will also establish infrastructure and regional cooperation to accelerate further EV adoption.

"We are thrilled that Alameda County will be the lead agency for the Local Government EV Fleet National Demonstration Project," said Susan Muranishi, County Administrator. "With this generous support from the MTC, the project will deliver direct environmental benefits to local governments and communities and will provide a model that can be emulated nationwide continuing the County's track record of environmental leadership in developing the clean energy economy."

Other municipal partner beneficiaries include Sonoma County, City of San Francisco, City of Concord, City of Oakland, City of San Jose, Transportation Authority of Marin, and the City of Fremont.